Ruth 4:5-10 ▼

5 Then Boaz said, |When you acquire the field from Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the wife of our deceased relative, in order to preserve his family name by raising up a descendant who will inherit his property.|

6 The guardian said, |Then I am unable to redeem it, for I would ruin my own inheritance in that case. You may exercise my redemption option, for I am unable to redeem it.|

7 (Now this used to be the customary way to finalize a transaction involving redemption in Israel: A man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party. This was a legally binding act in Israel.)

8 So the guardian said to Boaz, |You may acquire it,| and he removed his sandal.

9 Then Boaz said to the leaders and all the people, |You are witnesses today that I have acquired from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon.

10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, as my wife to raise up a descendant who will inherit his property so the name of the deceased might not disappear from among his relatives and from his village. You are witnesses today.|